Automobile alarm device.



the invention, such HN J. OUGHLIN, OF CHICAG, ILLINQIS.

AUTOMGBILE ALARM'. DEVICE,

Specification of Letters Patent.

ljatented lFeb. 4l, i919,

Application filed March 11, 1918. Serial No. ZZLSM.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. CoUeHLiN, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the couny of'y Cook and State oi Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Alarm Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has for its object to provide certain new and useful improvements 'in burglar devices for automobiles in particular, and which may be applied to other vehicles if desired, and which may be rendered by the owner operative or inoperative, as desired, so that upon leavingthe vehicle the said device may be set to operate and sound an alarm in the event that it is moved from its location during the owners ab- The invention includes manually operable means associated .with an alarm device operable from a movingpart of the vehicle which is disposed within a locked cabinet accessible only to the person possessing the key 'thereto for setting the alarm device to sound an alarm when the vehicle is moved, or to throw the alarm device out of operative position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an alarm device of the character set forth, the operating mechanism of which is entirely hidden from view and inaccessible to tampering therewith for the purpose of rendering sameinoperative to perform its function. p

A further object of the invention is to include as a art of the device a very loud sounding a arm adapted to attract immediate attention to the vehicle equip ed there with to avoid' the escape of a thie with the same. The invention consists in the features of construction and combinationsof parts hereinafter fully described and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustratingrthe invention: I

igure -1-.- is a view in side elevation of an automobile equipped with an alarm device constructed in accordance with invention, parts of same being broken away to expose the mechanism to view.

Fig. -2- is a fragmentary detail view show-ing the alarm mechanism on an enlaro'ed scale, together with a part of the ve hic e.

Fig. -3- is a fragmentary detail .section on the line 3-3 of Fig. i2

Fig. is a fragmentary detail view showing a portion of the inner face of the dash-board equipped with a cabinet housing the operating lever o the device.

My said alarm device comprises preferably a bell l suitably mounted below the body of the vehicle between the running boards thereof, and which may obviously be suitably housed to protect the same from mud and the like, which might otherwise be splashed thereon. Associated-with said bell is a hammer or sounding device 2 disposed at one end of a lever pivotally supported between its ends contiguous to the bell, and which is pivotally connected at its other end with one end of a plunger rod: 3. The latter extends longitudinally of the through a suitable guide and protecting tube e to a point contiguous to one of the rear wheels. The rear end of the rod 3 projects from the rear end of the tube -i and when disposed in operative position projects Y into the path of a projection 5 suitably mounted on one of the spokes of a rear wheel. A spring G secured at one end to the hammer-lever 2 and at its other end to a con tiguous portion of the tube 4 serves to maintain the hammer-lever 2 normally in contact with the bell 1; the same being adapted to be moved to substantially the position. shown in Fig. 2- by movement of the rod 3 toward the bell 1 under the influence of the projection 5, and being adapted to be forcibly impelled against the bell l by means of the spring 6 when the projection 5 has passed the associated end of-the rod 3.

On said rod 3 is a collar '.7 which is disposed contiguous to the forward end of the tube i and is adapted to reciprocate within the latter. Said tube e is provided at said end with a longitudinal slot 8 into which the bifureated projection 9 on a companion plunger rod i0 is adapted to pass; the rod 3 being adapted to be received in the recess fie -vehicle v in the lower end of the projection 9 and to reciprocate within the same when said rod 10 is disposed in a predetermined position. The rod 10 longitudinally movable in the guide and sup'iorting tube 11 also mounted below the body of the vehicle, and between the ruiming boards, and at its other end is connected with one arm ot the bellscrank lever 12 suitably pivotally supported on the vehicle body. The other arn'i of said bell crank level` is connected by means of a link 13 with a hand .lever 1l which may be pivotally supported upon the dash board or upon lihe side wall ol the body contiguous to the same at one end, and is provided at its other` end with a suitable spring-held dog l5 adapted to engage in the arcuate rack 16, also rigidly mounted upc-e a rigid part ot the body of the vehicle.

rThe said rack 16 and lever ll are adapt ed to be housed in a small cabinet mounted on or contiguous to the dash-board and which is provided with a suitable door adapted to be locked with a removable key so as to prevent access to the lever 14.- except when the said door unlocked and opened. ilxtending Vtrom the bottoni o'l the cabinet, indicated at 17 in Fig. -`l-, is a vertically disposed tube through which the link lf3 extends and is not only maintained hidden trom view thereby, but also protected against tamiiering. Said tube eX- tends preferably to or through the floor of the body.

Then the lever 14- is disposed in its uppermost position, as shown in Figs. Wl* and --2*, the rod l() will be so positioned as to cause the projection il to eiigage the collar T on the rod 23 to hold said rod at the forward limit ot its movement; against the action otI the spring t therelivY throwing the rear end ot :said rod t3 out ot the path ol.I travel ot thc projection 5, thus permitting the vehicle to travel without soundin; r the bell l` By moving the lever l-t to its lower position, however, the projection t) will be moved out of engaging relation to the collar T thus permitting the rod 3 to be freely reciprocated, and being normally held so that its rear end is disposed in the path ot the projection .7. Obviously, when in this position, it'thc vehicle is moved and the wheels thereof rotated, the said rod 3 will be reciprocated at. regularintervals and each time that the projection has passed the rear end of the rod 3 the spring l will siuldenly return it to its normal position thereby causing the hammer 2 to strike and sound the bell l. Said bell may be olI the type ol gong used on i'ire apparatus, and the like, so as to produce a very loud noise which will immediately attract the attent ion ot the public and case apprehension ol the thief or other unauthorized person operating the vehicle. The device is also adapted incasso ior use on tire and police vehicles for automatically sounding a gong as the vehicle travels to warn pedestrians and vehicles ot its approach.

While I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention in the accompanyinp; drawings, it will be understood, ot course, that' the particular mechanism therein shown may be changed and varied as to best adapt it to various types ol vehicles, and to produce the desired result without departing from the invention as delined in the aliipended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An alarm device 'for vehicles including a bell, a hammer for sounding Athe Same, a projection on a wheel ot the vehicle, a spring-held plunger operatively connected with .said hammer Vtor actuating the same as said plunger is reciprocated, a rod having sliding connection with said plunger, a collar on the latter .tor limiting the relative movements ol,1 said rod and plunger in one direction, a hand-lever operatively connected with said rod tor varying` its posi,- lion with respect to the plunger, said pro- `iection on a wheel of the vehicle adapted, when said hand lever is disposed in a predetermined position, to reciprocate the plunger as the vehicle moves, and means associated with the hand-lever for holding the same in position to maintain the same plunger in or out ot' engaging relation to said projection.

;\n alarm device lor vehicles including a bell. a hammer Ytor sounding the same, a projection on a wheel of the vehicle, a spring-held plunger operatively connected with said hammer for actuating the same as said plunger is reciin'ocatetfl, a. rod having sliding connection with said plunger, a. collar on the latter for limiting the relative movements ot said rod and plungei.' in one direction, a hand-lever operatively :onnected with said rod for varying its position with respect to the plunger, said projection on a wheel ot the vehicle adapted, when .said hand lever is disposed in a. predetermined position, to reciprocate the plunger as the vehicle moves, and means assoelated with the hand-kwel' for holding the .same in position to maintain the saine plunger in or out ol engaging relation to said project ion, said bell, plunger, rod and handlever being mounted upon portions of the vehicle body not. visible or easily accessible.

Il. A\n alarm deviceftor vehicles including a bell` a hammer Vtor .sounding the same, a projection on a wheel of the vehicle, a. springdield plunger operatively connected with said hammer l'or actuating the same; as said plunger is reciproeatcd, a rod having sliding connection with said plunger, a. eol- Ia' on the latter vtor limiting the relative movements ol' said rod and plunger in one menace a direction, a hand-lever operatively consition to maintain the same plunger in or nected with said rod for varying its position out of engaging relation to said projection, 10 with respect to the plunger, said projection and housings on the vehicle body for the on a wheel of the vehicle adapted, when said several aforesaid operative parts except the hand lever is disposed in a predetermined projection on the wheel for protecting said position, to reciprocate the plunger as the parts against tampering or other injury. vehicle moves, and means associated with the hand-lever for holding the same in po- JOHN J. COUGHLN. 

